Garden Walk Plans Finalized By Beula Dvorak, Co-Chair

Transcription

1 Vol. 26, No. 6 Editors: Julie Stark/Lisa Slattery June 2016 MASTER GARDENER EVENTS Steering Committee Mtg. Extension Office June 7 6:30 pm Monarch Research Project 4970 Lakeside Road, Marion June 23 6:00 pm Garden Walk Volunteer Meeting Extension Office June 27 6:30 pm Garden Walk Plans Finalized By Beula Dvorak, Co-Chair We are in full gear planning for and anticipating a great Garden Walk again this year. The date is July 9, 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Cost is still just $5.00 per person or $10 per family. Visitors will explore 4 diverse urban Linn County properties within the Cedar Rapids area. Each visitor will be inspired by demonstrations of perennials, annuals, container arrangements, raised beds, ornamental grasses, garden art and more. The gardens for this year: Noelridge Park Garden (4900 Council Street, NE): Gardens will showcase it s beautiful city staff What s Inside The love of dirt is among the earliest of passions, as it is the latest. Mud-pies gratify one of our first and best instincts. Charles Dudley Warner, , from My Summer in the Garden Garden Walk Plans Pages Plant Sale Wrap-up Page 3 Community Outreach Gardens Page 4 Noelridge Experience for All Ages Page 4 Coordinator Comments Page 5 Monarch Research Project Page 6 Master Gardeners at EcoFest Page 6 Volunteer Spotlight Pages 7-8 Master Gardener Library Expansion Page 8 Steering Cmte Report Pages 9-11 May

2 planted formal ornamental beds, along with the MG Herb Garden, the award-winning All America Selections Butterfly Garden, the in-development Winnie-the-Pooh-children s garden, and the Flutterby Acres Monarch Zone. Tours will be offered of outside protected enclosures where both Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies are reared. North Garden (4821 Millbrook Ct., NE): Affectionately named Compass Point Gardens, this garden was registered as a Monarch Way Station in Butterfly weed, a host plant for Monarchs, is tucked in throughout beds of a variety of perennials selected to attract butterflies, pollinators, birds, and hummingbirds. A stepping stone path winds through the mature trees and shade loving plants. Mahlke Prairie (5791 Michael Dr., NE): The prairie is approximately 1/3 acre, planted in May 1997 with native Iowa seeds. There are over 50 forbes including Cup Plant, Great St. John s Wort, Butterfly Milkweed, Purple Coneflower, New Mahlke Prairie England Aster and more. Grasses include Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Canada Wild Rye, Indiangrass and Sideoats Grama. Paths allow you to walk around or through the Prairie. Also included is a Monarch Zone with a tent for raising Monarch Butterflies. Keegan Garden (7110 Millburn Rd.): This home and gardens sit on 10 acres with approximately 8 areas dedicated to pollinator habitat. Other areas are a collection of vegetable gardens, fruits, and multiple flower beds featuring both perennials and annuals. There are 3 water features including a Koi pond with a 35-ft. stream and 2 waterfalls and a unique lotus pond. Abundant garden art and a relaxing retreat garden house will be seen. Unique challenges, particularly with the change of shade coverage were created after a tornado hit the property last December. Noelridge Garden North Garden Keegan Garden Help from many MGs are needed to produce a successful Garden Walk. Opportunities include: 1) advance preparation of the gardens which might include weeding/mulching, and 2) a variety of assistants on the day of the Walk, including garden guides, ticket takers, and parking guides. We are still in need of many more MG volunteers. If you haven t already signed up, please contact Diane Stevens (mama319@aol.com) or Beula Dvorak (bdvorak4@aol.com) ASAP to volunteer your time and talents. A meeting for all volunteers is Monday, June 27, 6:30 pm at the Extension Office. Garden Walk Previews for all MG volunteers is scheduled for Friday, July 8, beginning at 6:00 pm at Noelridge Park. 2 Germinator

3 2016 Charlene Woeste Plant Sale By: Karen Woeste and Phil Pfister, Co-Chairs The Plant Sale, Garden Walk and Winter Gardening Fair are the three fund raising activities that provide the funding for all the Linn County Master Gardener programs. So we are pleased to report the 15 th annual Linn County Master Gardener Charlene Woeste Plant Sale was again an overwhelming success. Thanks to all the Master Gardeners who donated plants and time to growing plants for the sale, our total sales were $9, Of the total number, $6, came from individual donations, and $3, from plants grown in the Lowe Park Greenhouse. 71 Master Gardeners volunteered between Thursday through Saturday to receive, groom and price the plants, set up the sale area, move plants from the second floor conference room (staging area) to the sale area, assist customers, tend and water plants, and then clean everything up to return it to normal operating environment. 37 Master Gardeners donated 1716 perennials. Thanks to the efforts of Karen Woeste, 727 of these came from the gardens of Charlene Woeste. Charlene s commitment to the plant sale through donation of plants lives on. In addition to the individual plants donated by Master Gardeners, the blooming side of the Lowe Park Greenhouse provided 2,010 plants, which included individual plants like the geraniums, hanging baskets, patio pots and basket gardens, and herbs. The veggie side provided 353 tomatoes in 4 pots, and 49 cell-packs of peppers and eggplants. Special thanks to Shelly O Neal, our Coordinator, for all her help and support with the prep and the sale, and to Johanna Rahbush and Janice Savel for their help and support, and for cashiering during the sale. May 3

4 Community Outreach Gardens By Beula Dvorak A number of exciting things are happening in our Community Outreach Gardens. Please contact me if you are interested in participating in any of these gardens (bdvorak4@aol.com). Catherine McAuley Garden: They decided to hold off on the meditation space for now. MGs will work this year on an "as-needed" basis. Wellington Heights: We have had a couple of work days with great participation! In addition to the new garden space from last year, we are rehabbing an existing space next to Wellington House. Summit School Activity-Cedar Rapids Library: MG s Jo Dillion, Lelia Garner, Mary Mikkola, Phil Pfister and MG Intern Marcy Walker, participated in a Summit School activity on April 11 at the Cedar Rapids Library; 21 students participated in a seed starting and planting session. Marion Community Garden: Volunteers have topped the beds at the Marion Community Garden with compost, peat and perlite. Lettuce, spinach and radishes were seeded the week of April 11; additional seeding will take place by the end of the month. Options of Linn County Report: Unfortunately, Diane Wiesenfeld and Carson Fixmer s recommended site for their vegetable garden was not approved by Linn County who owns the land or by Options of Linn County due to aesthetic reasons. Grant money was returned to ISU, who awarded the $750 to mini-grant applicant, Feed Iowa First (MG, Dora Bopp). Noelridge Experience for All Ages By Linda Eggelston May has been a very busy month at the Noelridge Greenhouse. After a very successful Mother's Day open house, the greenhouse hosted 22 rambunctious 4 year olds from St. Pius preschool. They loved walking through the greenhouse brimming with brightly blooming flowers that will soon be planted throughout the city. The preschoolers learned how Noelridge is assisting the pollinator projects that are being emphasized throughout Cedar Rapids. The greenhouse is supplying the tropical milkweed for the Monarch Zones as well as the plants for the new hoop houses that will be raising Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies this summer at Noelridge Park. The kids enjoyed making "coffee filter" butterflies and topped the tour off with an "egg hunt" that, as well as being loads of fun, helped them learn about the four stages of the Monarch butterfly life cycle. Later the same week some wheelchair bound seniors from Linn Manor Care were escorted around the busy greenhouse. They enjoyed the many different colorful flowers and smelling the jasmine and orange blossoms in the Conservatory. Many memories were shared about special flowers and gardens from their past. Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who help make the Noelridge experience available to both the very young and very old. 4 Germinator

5 Coordinator Comments By: Shelly O'Neal Hello, It s hard to believe May is behind us! The gardening gloves are on, and I am sure many of you have already planted for the season. I am not yet a Master Gardener, and will be reaching out to you with questions as they arise because this is the first year I am trying gardening. Phil Pfister is quite the salesman, as I bought one of each of the tomato varieties that were available at the plant sale. I have since planted them in containers and am looking forward to a bountiful harvest. I also picked up some different varieties of decorative plants and saved a pallet full of plants that were destined for the dumpster. So it will be exciting to see how they grow. I am 8 months in my position and still on a learning curve. I really enjoy working with you all and assisting you on the variety of projects that you organize and present. Some of the projects I am working on include a- year-at-a-glance calendar, and I have created notebooks for the different projects that have the information and timelines. I am also working with Tina Patterson to create an online store for the MGs. This store will allow you to purchase directly from the vendor items such as shirts, hats, travel mugs, and aprons. If there is an item that you want included as a purchase option, please send me an letting me know. Here s a wish that you all enjoy your June, and you and yours stay healthy, and your plants grow healthy too! Shelly Friend of Linn County Master Gardeners Award Presented to the Friends of Marion Parks Friend of Linn County Master Gardeners Award is presented to a Master Gardener spouse or other friend for their dedicated service in support of the Master Gardener program. This year's award, presented at the April 29th Master Gardener Awards Banquet, goes to the Friends of Marion Parks for their outstanding support to the programs at Lowe Park. Thank you for all you do for the Linn County Master Gardener Program! May 5

6 Monarch Research Project Station Tour and Seminar For Linn County Master Gardeners Only - please wear MG badge, and register through Expert Education Thursday, June 23, :00 p.m Lakeside Road, Marion, IA The seminar will include a tour of the Monarch Research Station and the adjacent pollinator habitat fields. Included will be an overview of the purpose, goals, and mission of the Project. The process and protocols of the Rearing Lab will be detailed, as developed with ISU Reiman Gardens entomologists. The seminar will conclude with a tour of the 12x12 environmental rearing tents located outside, with instruction on the life cycle of Swallowtails and Monarchs and how the tents are maintained and monitored to substantially increase survival rates to adulthood. To register call or soneal@iastate.edu Master Gardeners at ECO-FEST By Beula Dvorak Keeping with the Year of the Pollinator theme, Master Gardeners hosted a table at ECO-FEST at New Bo as part of their Earth Day celebration in April. Shelby and Tina Patterson sold almost $500 worth of plants and baskets from the Lowe greenhouse. Linda Hinzman, Beula Dvorak and Diane Stevens, plus additional MG volunteers, led many children and adults in making bee houses using a tin can and filling it with wood chunks, hollow plant stems and rolled newspaper for mason bee habitation. Approximately 150 bee houses went home with families throughout the day. Our own MG Becki Lynch was a keynote speaker that day, drawing a capacity crowd to hear about creating a home garden with some of the top pollinator plants. 6 Germinator

7 Volunteer Spotlight Cheryl Hoech By Linda Skvor Meet Cheryl Hoech! When I contacted Cheryl Hoech about being my next volunteer to spotlight, I had no idea she was embarking on a new venture: Cheryl is in the process of relocating to southern California! After 41 years in Iowa, she discovered she loves mountains and big water. Cheryl was born in St. Louis and grew up in Rolla, Missouri. Her dad was a metallurgist for the Interior Dept. Bureau of Mines and Metallurgy and had a victory garden during WWII. When she was four, Cheryl and her dad planted a big garden she had the gardening bug. Cheryl had lived in Cedar Rapids since 1974 and had gardens at her first two homes. Her last home in Bowman Woods, with poor clay soil, buried utility cables and insects from the corn/bean field behind the house, left her discouraged and uninspired. Cheryl took a twenty year break from gardening. During that time, she raised her daughter, Hannah, and opened and closed The Upper Crust Bakery in Marion. She also worked temporary jobs and was an active volunteer (church, Hiawatha Elementary and Washington High School) before settling on being an at-home mom. Fast forward to the Feb. 24, 2007 ice storm. Cheryl felt a need to get back into gardening any way she could. As soon as the power returned, Cheryl searched the Internet for seed vendors. After stumbling upon Nichols Garden Nursery site, she clicked on the tab for Straw Bale Gardening, and she knew she had found her solution! She ordered seeds, bales of straw and a truckload of garden soil. Cheryl was back in business. Cheryl is forever thankful for gardening friends near and far who offered support when she tragically lost her daughter, Hannah, in a car accident six years ago and then, seven months later, she lost her dad to cancer. Cheryl decided to go through the MG training in 2014 after her mother also passed away. This was not Cheryl s first time through the MG program, however. Cheryl went through training the second year the program was offered in the 80's. At that time, she was working full time, and there were not many programs established for MGs and, sadly, she did not complete the volunteer portion of the commitment. Before departing for California, Cheryl had been a charter volunteer at Noelridge and added Lowe Park and the Hortline since completing her training. Cheryl will continue volunteering in California where many people still need to be encouraged to use rain barrels, to xeriscape, and to eliminate the invasive introduced plants in gardens. About a month after arriving in San Diego, Cheryl saw volunteer gardeners working on a cliff. Cheryl did Continued Page 12 May 7

8 Continued from Page 7 a U-turn, parked, and introduced herself to the volunteers. Volunteers were preparing the soil for a cliff top garden of coastal natives. She helped them the following day with mulching but, unfortunately, the garden has not been a success. Many of the plants have died. Cheryl and the other volunteers are trying to learn the right amount and types of support to give new plants that have to withstand drought, wind, and salt spray from the ocean. Cheryl encourages her classmates and fellow Linn County Master Gardeners to keep up the good work and to encourage Iowans to get out and grow something, anything, because it is so satisfying and rewarding. I will be growing my garden on a balcony of an apartment, but I feel empowered to do this because of what I learned in Iowa. Life is good, she said. Best of luck, Cheryl! Master Gardener Library Expansion You too can have your own book! These are the latest recipients of the 2,000 volunteer hours and up awards. These wooden books with your name and hours of service are on display in the beautiful Master Gardener wood carving at the Linn County Extension Office. Congratulations to you all!!! 8 Germinator

9 May 2016 Steering Committee Minutes DRAFT Abridged for Germinator Present: Steve Bartlett, Jackie Baumhauer, Larry Dawson, Beula Dvorak, Cindy Fagan, Darrell Hennessey, Sylvia Kelly, Sam Krumbholz, Kay McWhinney, Jane Schildroth, Linda Shepard, Jean Wilson. Absent: Linda Hinzman, Jackie MacLaren, Diane Wiesenfeld. Minutes from April 5th meeting were approved with the correction that Diane Wiesenfeld was present at the April meeting. Announcements: Beula updated the co-chairs of the Winter Garden Fair, Phil Pfister and Larry Dawson with shadows Sam Krumbholz and Larry Edwards. The Executive Steering Committee approved the use of Noelridge Volunteers, Friends of Noelridge, to assist MG volunteers during the 2016 Garden Walk. Financial Report: Unsold plants from WGF were sold at the WMT lawn and garden event. The income from the WGF budget reflected the ISU registrations as of March 31. More income will be coming in. One MG was approved a stipend in the amount of $ for a Shade Tree class. We will also check on the expenses needed for the Hiawatha School Project. Project and Committee Reports Awards Banquet: The 2016 Awards Banquet was held April 28 at the Flamingo Event Center; 110 attendees was a record turnout. See the May Germinator article for list of award winners. Thea Cole's name was unfortunately omitted from the roll call of previous MG of the Year. Thea earned the distinction in Centerpieces were grown in the Lowe Greenhouse and given to attendees, along with wooden dibblers donated as door prizes. Masters of Ceremonies, Jane Schildroth and Beula Dvorak, were entertaining, paired with a PowerPoint of the 2015 year in review. Brucemore: Confirmed plans with Brucemore's lead Horticulturalist for the event being held on Saturday, August 27. Carol Elliot has agreed to be MG co-chair for the committee. Charlene Woeste Plant Sale: The Charlene Woeste Plant Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, 2016, at the Linn County Extension Office. Sale hours are 8-noon. Volunteers are requested to arrive by 6 am to set up and stay after the sale to clean up. A short write-up was in the April Germinator with general guidelines for potting plants for the sale. Creative Gardening Series: The Series highlighted Pollinators, and attendance was: What's the Buzz (67); Messy Fields Make Good Neighbors (33); Monarch Research Project (125). Excellent evaluations were received from all three presentations. Because this was a special year for the Series, Becki Lynch chaired for one year only; Chairs will now be Linda Hinzman and Kathy Hughes. Community Outreach Gardens: Committee members are preparing some basic curriculum guides to use for Community Garden education this summer on a variety of topics Gardens and MG Leads: Catherine McAuley (Diane Wiesenfeld); Wellington Heights (Diane Wiesenfeld/Peggy Green); Marion Blue Zones (Phil Pfister); Summit Pointe May 9

10 Retirement Living Center (Sarah Neff); Czech Museum (Beula Dvorak/Sue Usher); Ely Library (Beula Dvorak/Jane Schildroth); Olivett Mission/ Horizons (Carson Fixmer/another); Prairiewoods (Kay McWhinney/Peggy Green); Kenwood Schools (Victoria Fernandez). More gardens will be added as requests are completed and MGs are available to assist. If any MG or intern is interested in helping with any of the gardens, contact Beula Dvorak Individual garden reports are on Page 4 of this Germinator issue. Demo Gardens: Noelridge: Greenhouse visits included approximately 30 Vernon Middle School students with staff (April 12) and adult clients of Milestones in Marion (April 21). MG's and Friends of Noelridge volunteers helped with the tours. Another tour is scheduled with adults from Systems Unlimited (April 28). March MG and intern volunteer hours at the greenhouse totaled 163. Work is continuing in anticipation of the Mother's Day Showcase/ Open House; tropical milkweed will be a give away. New Bo: More than 1 ton of compost to amend the soil was added and a cattle panel arbor installed. At EcoFest, we engaged with participants while installing drip irrigation and a row cover. We took advantage of the live music at EcoFest while planting seeds, onions, potatoes and tomatoes (Thanks Lowe!) and hops on the permanent trellis'. From the Ground Up: The school year finished at Hiawatha Elementary. We will be meeting soon to determine the direction we would like to take FGU in the next year. Garden Walk: A meeting was held on Monday, April 11 of the Garden Walk committee, hosts, and leads for the four gardens: Noelridge Park Gardens, Diana North's garden, Dave Mahlke's prairie and home garden, and Vicki Keegan's acreage. The committee will meet again in May. Friends of Noelridge volunteers will be assisting as many volunteers will be needed; all Noelridge Gardens will be on display, not just MG plots. Greenhouse: About 40 STEM students, 2 adults and 1 teacher from Vernon Middle School toured the Greenhouse on April 12. Shelby Foley provided presentations throughout the greenhouse. The School has a new greenhouse, so there was a lot of interest in the hoop house and greenhouse. Thanks to MG Jackie Baumhauer, Larry Edwards, Shelby Foley, Holly Foster, Nancy Hayes, Linda Hayward, Michelle Jones, Colleen Kint, Mary Mikkola, Tina Patterson, Phil Pfister, Doug Smith, Shirley Thornton, and Barb Wing. Work sessions continue every Tuesday & Thursday (9 am-noon) and most Wednesdays (6:30 pm-8 pm). Shelby Foley & Tina Patterson participated in the April 23 ECO-FEST at NewBo, selling plants and containers totaling $485. Hortline: March contacts were 188 with 211 questions; 22 related to pesticides, 12 insect related and 19 pruning related. Eight publications were distributed. Some books were donated to the Hortline office. Two new people will be trained for Hortline. Plant Exchange: The plant exchange will be Saturday, September Germinator

11 Planting for Pollinators: As we move into the spring and summer activities, Pollinators will be highlighted through the Plant Sale, Garden Walk, Noelridge Garden activities, and multiple presentations around the community. MG provided information and activities throughout the day during EcoFest. The Pollinator team is thankful for all the support and assistance from all MG and, in particular, the MG Project chairs. Public Relations: Debbie Main prepped materials for Easter at Noelridge; set up tables at 2 health fairs at TransAmerica; set up table for health fair at Great America; set up table at Marion city showcase, will set up table at Indian creek plant sale; will prepare pubs for Noelridge Mother's Day and will set up table for plant sale. School Projects: Hiawatha: On April 22 & 23, 20+ students, families, staff and MG amended the raised garden beds and prepped a new space for a new Pollinator Garden. Thanks MG Interns, Pat Kadlec and Holly Foster, and MG, Phil Pfister and Becki Lynch, for helping get us ready to plant! All 9 raised beds have been spoken for and classrooms will begin planting soon. On May 20, Monarch Matters will be doing an all school presentation; each student will be able to make pollinator seed balls for RAGBRAI riders. This will be the kickoff event for our new Pollinator garden. Volunteers are still needed for this event, so contact Cindy Fagan if available to have some fun with this group (cfagan1@live.com). We are also working on signage:s "Hiawatha Elementary School Learning Garden". Stipends & Scholarships: One $160 stipend was approved in March to attend the Shade Tree Short Course at ISU. Winter Gardening Fair: Phil Pfister and Larry Dawson are co-chairs for 2017 with shadows, Sam Krumbholz and Larry Edwards. Watch for planning opportunities in coming months. MG Coordinator Report: Shelly reported on The Non Profit Manage Academy in Iowa City that will offer multiple classes at $70 per class. A total of 10 classes will be offered. More information will follow. New Business: Proposed Handbook Changes: If a MG has volunteered a total of 2,000 hours, he/she will be represented by a wooden book on the shelf with their name on it in the Extension Office. Also, if a MG passes away, a book will be purchased for the Hortline in their memory. These additions will be included in the revised handbook. Next meeting is June 7 th. Respectively submitted, Sam Krumbholz, Secretary Linn County Extension Master Gardeners 383 Collins Road NE, Suite 201 Cedar Rapids, IA ph (319) Hortline (319) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC or call May 11

12 12 Germinator Master Gardeners ISU Linn County Extension 383 Collins Road NE, Suite 201 Cedar Rapids, IA 52402